Flight Details
Two foreign pilots conducted a VFR departure from an airport on the outskirts of a metropolitan area, intending to remain in the vicinity. No record was found indicating that the airplane had been fueled before or after the preceding flight.
Incident Sequence
During the flight, the crew contacted an area approach control facility and requested an ILS approach to test their ILS equipment without specifying an airport. Approach control issued vectors to an airport for which the pilots had no approach plate or airport information. The vectors took the airplane approximately 25 miles from the departure airport.
The flight crew then requested to proceed back to the departure airport. Shortly thereafter, they declared an emergency due to low fuel. Radar contact was subsequently lost.
Witnesses at a landfill reported hearing an intermittent sound from the engine(s). The airplane came into their view with one engine running, then the engine sound ceased. The witnesses indicated the airplane went out of control and crashed, but they noted that one engine accelerated just before impact. A small fire was confined to the left wing. Both occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident is: Improper planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate supply of fuel, and the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during approach to an emergency landing. A related factor was: failure of the pilot to refuel the airplane before flight.